(This post is the fifth to the last post following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “Third Crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

*****

After his brilliant triumph at Jaffa, Richard the Lionheart fell deathly ill. He had been ill before while on this mission, but this time his symptoms were so severe that he was giving instructions for his will. Peace negotiations started again, almost out of brutal necessity. Richard was barely surviving, in no condition at all to command any operations. Saladin would have loved to exploit the situation, but his army was utterly war-weary, lacking any sort of resolve needed to finish the fight. Ascalon remained the deal-breaker. Richard was not going to turn over a position he had worked so hard to establish, had expended so much of his time and resources on, to the enemy. And Saladin would not allow a position of such a threat to Egypt to remain in western Christian hands. The regular negotiating teams went back and forth, apparently at an impasse. But through what we would today call “back-channels,” some serious progress was taking place. Saladin was confused. Which position represented Richard’s position? 820 years ago today, a courier for Saladin’s brother al-Adil brought Saladin’s final offer—Ascalon was to be demolished under supervision of Muslim and western Christian engineers. No one would hold the position. If this offer was not accepted, Saladin promised he would fight on—he lived here. Richard had said he would stay until the following Easter. Saladin welcomed him to do so. But the truth is, Richard could not stay any longer. The offer was accepted.

I invite you to read The Swords of Faith, my novel about this period, dramatizing these events and within that drama exploring themes that still have striking relevance today.

(This post is the 49th of what will be approximately 70 posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “Third Crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

*****

820 years ago today, al-Adil rode into Richard the Lionheart’s camp with a serious offer for peace:

The western Christians would keep what they had conquered.

Jerusalem would remain in Muslim possession, with the right of pilgrimage for western Christians, and Latin Christian priests would be restored to Christian churches there.

The “True Cross” would be restored to the Western Christians.

Christians would be permitted to annex Beirut if it was demilitarized.

Richard the Lionheart seemed favorable to the offer. He knighted al-Adil’s son, al-Kamil. Al-Adil returned to Saladin in early April and told Saladin he thought the two sides were on the verge of peace. But though serious terms were now on the table, peace would not come yet.

(This post is the 41st of what will be approximately 70 posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “Third Crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

*****

820 years ago today, Christians and Muslims met at a banquet at Lydda (southeast of Jaffa) hosted by al-Adil, Saladin’s brother. Richard the Lionheart and al-Adil expressed affection for each other, and it is clear a rapport had developed between the two men. But peace was no closer than it had been right after the Battle of Arsuf. Al-Adil was very definitely playing for time, to delay the anticipated western Christian advance on Jerusalem for as long as possible. Did he feign politeness to Richard in an attempt to accomplish this purpose? Certainly. But evidence exists that a genuine mutual affection did develop. We can legitimately speculate that the August slaughter of the Acre hostages might not have occurred in November under the same circumstances. Why was al-Adil playing for time? Two reasons that will become evident during the next two 820th anniversary posts on the “Third Crusade.”

(This post is the 39th of what will be approximately 70 posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “Third Crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

*****

In one of the more bizarre moves of the “Third Crusade,” a move that belongs in the “truth-stranger-than-fiction” category, 820 years ago today Richard the Lionheart proposed that his sister, Joan, recent widow of the king of Sicily, marry al-Adil, Saladin’s brother, and that the two jointly rule a territory that would include Jerusalem. After all, that is how many disputes were resolved inEurope. And negotiations between the forces commanded by Richard the Lionheart and Saladin had stalled. Little of substance toward a settlement had occurred between the negotiators. On October 17th, Richard sent his own heart-felt almost naïve letter spelling out how much both sides had suffered, and how since Jerusalem meant more to Christians than to Muslim, the parties should resolve the conflict along Richard’s terms.

Saladin sent back a quick, polite reply—Richard’s personal appeal had not been persuasive. So Richard followed with this creative proposal of a unifying marriage. Saladin and his brother and advisers needed to decide on a response.

Saladin was brilliant in assessing the situation accurately, then crafting the perfect response. The key was Saladin’s understanding that this proposal was not serious. What of the Kingdom of Jerusalem Guy/Conrad issue? Were they just going to be left out of any settlement? Was this Richard’s attempt to signal his seriousness about an ultimate settlement, and to provoke a meaningful counterproposal? Whatever it was, Saladin’s understanding of its lack of seriousness guided him to his masterful response—simple—he accepted the proposal.

Now Richard had a dilemma on his hands. He brought the matter to his sister Joan—he hadn’t discussed this with her before making the proposal. She angrily refused the idea. She was not going to marry a Muslim! Richard had to go back to Saladin’s negotiators and explain the problem. But there was an easy solution for Richard to propose. Al-Adil could convert to Christianity. Obviously, this was not an easy solution at all. The Muslims quickly dismissed this idea. Though Richard mentioned getting the Pope’s permission for one of his nieces to marry a Muslim, the whole idea fizzled, confirming Saladin’s original conclusion that Richard’s proposal was never serious.

(This post is the 35th of what will be approximately 70 posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “Third Crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

*****

Richard the Lionheart knew Saladin wanted to entice his forces to battle. He was fairly sure he knew where the enemy forces would try to attempt this. He decided to call for talks with al-Adil, Saladin’s brother. Saladin was happy to agree to this request and sent his brother with instructions to draw out their talks. 820 years ago today, the two men met. But Richard’s idea of talks was a demand to al-Adil for Saladin’s forces to surrender the coast and Jerusalem. Al-Adil abruptly rejected this proposal and broke off their talks. Saladin was disappointed the talks were not extended. But al-Adil did not see how else he could respond to such a ridiculous offer. It was little more than a demand for surrender. And no doubt al-Adil had preparations to make for the upcoming battle. Richard’s gambit of asking for negotiations to test al-Adil’s reaction gave him information he needed. Richard believed the Muslims would force a battle just west of the forests at Arsuf.

(This post is the 26th of what will be approximately 70 posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “Third Crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

*****

820 years ago today, amidst commotion that could be heard in the Muslim camps, with fanfares and cheering, Richard the Lionheart, as part of what would be twenty-five galleys (with more to come), landed at Acre. His arrival reduced morale among Muslims, though Saladin is reported to have remained calm. Richard arrived with his usual dashing confidence. He wanted to set up negotiations with Saladin as soon as possible. Maybe his arrival, and news of the numbers of forces and resources at his command, would motivate the Muslims to give up the fight. Whether it did or didn’t, Richard saw negotiations as a chance to learn about the enemy, to take the measure of them. But two problems emerged. At almost the moment he arrived, Richard became ill, contracting what the French called “arnaldia,” a fever causing hair loss and nails to fall out. He was in no condition to meet his adversaries for a number of weeks. And second, Saladin, probably suspecting Richard’s call for negotiations was not entirely sincere, was not interested in face-to-face meetings. “Kings do not meet while they are at war,” Saladin replied. He referred Richard to his brother, al-Adil (also sometimes referred to as Safadin). Over the coming months, Richard would forge a remarkable bond with this future sultan of the Ayyubid empire. Richard’s forces got busy bringing their resources into the fight. But except for some operations with Richard trying to command from a stretcher, it would be awhile before Richard would be capable of a direct active role in finally achieving western Christian victory at Acre.